Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2004-05: After being drafted second overall by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2004 OHL Priority Draft, Matt Corrente jumped right into the line-up. Despite some first year jitters and a little bit of difficulty adjusting to the level of play, Corrente fared about as well as could have been expected. He scored six goals and nine assists and his ugly -38 rating was due to his lack of experience and the fact the Spirit were one of the worst teams in the OHL.

2005-06: With one OHL season under his belt, Corrente came into 2005-06 more prepared. He doubled his offensive production (30 points in 61 games), and more importantly was solid in his own end. This was reflected in his +3 plus/minus rating for the season. His confidence level was also reflected in his 172 PIM's as he became much more assertive and aggressive. Corrente was chosen to participate in the 2006 CHL Top Prospects game and performed well in both the skills competition and the game itself. His shot was one of the hardest of all the prospects, and he was one of the fastest skaters. Corrente was chosen by the New Jersey Devils at the end of the first round of the 2006 NHL Draft.

2006-07: Corrente had what could best be described as a rollercoaster season. After having an outstanding training camp in New Jersey, Corrente spun his wheels upon his return to junior and just as he was starting to get back on track, Corrente and four other members of the Spirit were suspended for a pair of games for breaking team rules. The incident probably played a part in a trade that saw Corrente get dealt to his home town of Mississauga in early January. His combined totals with the Spirit and Ice Dogs saw him score three goals and 26 assists in 43 games. He posted a +13 rating and 94 PIM’s.

2007-08: Corrente had about as good as season as could have been expected with all the games he missed this season for the Niagara Ice Dogs. To start, he missed the first few games of the season as he was still in New Jersey after a second straight strong showing in training camp and NHL pre-season games. Upon his return, he missed time with a ligament injury in his wrist, and then re-injured his wrist in a fight that consequently saw him suspended for 8 games. And lastly, Corrente broke his thumb in mid-January and missed the rest of the regular season. As a result of all those separate incidents, Corrente was only able to suit up in 21 regular season games. He was fully healthy though for the Ice Dogs in the post-season, suiting up in all 10 games the team played, before seeing his team get knocked out in the second round of the OHL playoffs.

2008-09: Corrente had hoped to be in New Jersey last season, but a poor showing at training camp resulted in him being sent to Lowell for the 2008-09 season. He quickly emerged as one of the top defenders for Lowell, playing major minutes resulting in fantastic pro debut. He flashed his all-around ability, scoring six goals and 12 assists in 67 games to go along with 161 PIM's and a steady +1 rating.

2009-10: Split time between the minors and the big club in his second full pro season. In 43 games with Lowell, Corrente piled up 20 points. He was unable to register on the scoresheet in his 12 game stint with New Jersey.

2010-11: Corrente suffered through an injury-filled campaign in his third pro season, including a shoulder injury in a fight with Tampa Bay's Steve Downie in January that ended his season. Corrente played 22 games for the Devils and had 6 assists with 44 PMs and a -5 plus/minus. He also played three games with AHL Albany and had 1 assist with 10 PMs and was +1. Corrente signed a one-year contract with the Devils in July, 2011.

2011-12: Corrente was off to a fast start for AHL Albany in his fourth pro season but again battled through injuries – missing 15 games after suffering what was termed an "upper body injury" in November and then missing another 15-game stretch after suffering a lower body injury in January. In 39 games for Albany he scored 2 goals with 6 assists and was minus-nine with 73 penalty minutes. Albany missed the playoffs for the second straight year after finishing last in the Northeast Division. Corrente was one of the players re-called by the Devils for the NHL playoffs but did not see any action. He was re-signed as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract by New Jersey in July, 2012.

Talent Analysis

Corrente plays an aggressive and assertive in-your-face style. He relishes playing a physical game and has no qualms about dropping his gloves. His playing style hurts him at times as he often takes himself out of the play and has also led him to him being injured on a fairly regular basis. It is a double edged sword for Corrente as he must play that style to maximize his effectiveness. He skates well in all directions, and while he has the tools to be a contributor offensively (namely a hard and heavy point shot), his bread-and-butter is always going to be his physicality. His defensive zone play has improved since he turned pro, but his limited hockey sense can hinder him sometimes in that area.

Future

The Devils have built up an impressive group of defense prospects, which has slowly pushed Corrente further down the depth chart. His propensity for injuries definitely hasn’t helped his cause, but the fact of the matter is, he is quickly running out of time to prove himself at the NHL level. This up-coming season truly might be Corrente’s last chance to make it in New Jersey.

Photo: After paying his dues in the AHL for several seasons, defenseman Alexander Urbom is on the cusp of becoming a NHL quality defender. (Bill Streicher/Icon SMI)

In terms of strengths and weaknesses, not much has changed for the New Jersey Devils organization. They continue to be well stocked on the blue line, which is good for the future because, aside from Adam Larsson and Mark Fayne, the majority of defensman in New Jersey are on the wrong-side of 30. In between the pipes, the Devils have finally started to plan for future and have a solid group of goaltending prospects. Upfront is a bit of a different story. There is some decent depth at wing and center, but in terms of top-six ability, there is not much to get excited about.